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Thinning silicone for sealing tent seams

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Dec 17, 2009 at 3:52 am #1252828

Nicholas Couis
BPL Member

@nichoco

Does anybody know the Australian name for what i need to thin silicone seam sealant. Any other hints to do a good job.Should i do the outer as well as the inner sides.Thanks. I am going to seal a MountainLauralDesigns Duo Mid

Dec 17, 2009 at 5:32 am #1554709

Mark McLauchlin
BPL Member

@markmclauchlin
Locale: Western Australia

Hi

Go to bunnings and get Diggers Metholated spirits, if you are thinning out Silnet it works a treat.

When I seam sealed my Tarptent I only did the outer, no leaks so far.

Cheers

Dec 17, 2009 at 5:46 am #1554714

Keith Selbo
Spectator

@herman666
Locale: Northern Virginia

They don't have odorless paint thinner down under?

By the way, silicone doesn't mix easily with the thinner. I found that chucking a slightly bent finishing nail in an electric drill and using that to stir the mixture greatly speeds the mixing process.

Dec 17, 2009 at 7:30 am #1554740

Brad Rogers
BPL Member

@mocs123
Locale: Southeast Tennessee

Do they have Permatex Flowable Silicone Windshield and Glass Sealer down under? It is usually found at a auto parts store and can be used to seal silnylon tents without the need to thin it.

Dec 17, 2009 at 12:24 pm #1554863

Franco Darioli
Spectator

@franco
Locale: Gauche, CU.

Mineral Turpentine.
Start with a blob of silicone. Add a little bit of turp and mix it in. Keep adding and mixing till is runny.
Franco
Permatex Flowable Silicone, yes it is avaliable here…

Dec 17, 2009 at 1:22 pm #1554884

Lawson Kline
BPL Member

@mountainfitter

The thicker you make it the harder it is to stir. Use a drill with a paint mixer to speed up the process and to give you a better mix. Once the silicone dries its easy to peel off.

Dec 17, 2009 at 1:41 pm #1554898

Franco Darioli
Spectator

@franco
Locale: Gauche, CU.

It's only hard if one starts with a lot of mineral spirit. The trick is to mix small quantities in at a time.Just like making a sauce…
I use a cut down soda can. Squirt a blob of silicone , add a few drops of turp and mix with an art paint brush (about 3mm wide)
Add a bit more, swirl around a few times. add again , mix. The all process takes about 3-5 minutes.
Franco

Dec 17, 2009 at 2:02 pm #1554910

Tony Wong
BPL Member

@valshar
Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

I used white gas with GE Silicon II sealant (window and exterior home sealant) from the hardware store and a foam paint brush to apply the thinned out silicon to my tarptent.

If memory serves me, Henry's instructions that came with the tarptent said mineral spirits or white gas.

Worked fine for me.

I have not had to reapply to my Contrail.

-Tony

Dec 17, 2009 at 4:38 pm #1554996

Mark McLauchlin
BPL Member

@markmclauchlin
Locale: Western Australia

I never found it to be thick at all, quite the opposite.

Best way to apply is with a sponge brush, usually found at craft stores.

Dec 18, 2009 at 1:48 am #1555144

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

The Permatex flowable window sealant already mentioned is good, but here in Oz very expensive.

The Wacker N10 Elastosil sealant is also very flowable (without dilution), but getting hold of it may be difficult.

The trouble with using many forms of thinners (and alcohol) is that they often contain a bit of water, and many silicones are cured by the absorption of water. So the stuff goes off *very* quickly wile you are mixing.

Cheers
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